I'm going back to work in february because we can't afford to have me stay home with the kids when my maternity leave ends. I'll need to find a daycare that will take both my girls, because they are so close already I can only imagine when our youngest one is 11 months old, they will be inseperable.

The problem i'm having now is trusting a daycare to deal with all of these allergies. As far as I know, most daycares around here are peanut free (some nut free as well), but with all the other allergies I'm worried they will say no to her, after all it's not regulated at all, and since most have a waiting list they'll most likely skip over me. The only one I found so far that seems decent (and I haven't talked to anyone yet) is 35$ a day per child, and since I have 2, 70$ a day is insane and almost more than I would earn at work.. Hiring a privatge nanny is even more expensive. I'm really frustrated that there is no way to receive the subsidies that daycares in quebec receive for their 7$ a day program (the government sends an extra 40$ or so a day to those daycares per spot.. I would gladly undercut them and take 35$ a day per child). I can't even get accredited as a daycare because they require you to serve meals based on canadas food guide and wont accept a meal plan that has no dairy in it (soy isn't considered appropriate for them). Anyone have any ideas? I have about 6-7 months to figure this out, if not were in deep trouble because we wont be able to afford anything either way (staying home with the kids, or sending them to daycare that charges the same as my salary pretty much...) My only idea is to have a 3rd kid to get more from the child tax benefits and be claimed as a dependant on my husbands tax return.. *sigh* I never even though about this at first when she was diagnosed!

This is wierd, but maybe good.. It appears that she is considered "handicapped" by the Quebec Government and is therefore entitled to subsidies because she needs to attend a more expensive daycare - I have to contact a ton of people now to set all these things up, fill out the application and wait for approval, but it seems like any child with 3 or more major food allergies is considered to have a handicap.. I don't know whether this makes me relieved or not, as long as she is safe in daycare I guess, that's all I care about!

I wasn't aware about that definition of 'handicapped' as having 3 or more major allergies. I don't think that's the case where we are (in BC), but if it works for you, that's great!

We never did daycare, but had a nanny before we knew about the allergies, and did try to look for another one after that when I was contemplating going back to work. I may have scared off a few applicants with the allergy spiel - not sure. It did weigh in on the decision not to go back to work. I have heard horror stories about allergic children being turned away from day cares - it's so frustrating!

I had thought of starting my own daycare but honestly it would be a huge hassle and since our house is under construction (huge renovations) at the moment, it wouldn't pass an inspection for sure.. I've gotten hold of a social worker for now who may be able to help me.

I would say ask around if anyone you know knows someone who has a home daycare. I think the max they are allowed in quebec is 7 kids so it's much easier to look after children with certain dietary needs in a smaller setting. My aunt used to own a daycare and I worked there during the summers. It wasn't an allergen free daycare but we had action plans for all the kids and catered to everyone's needs. We managed even with 15-20 kids in a class so I know a home daycare with a competent woman running it would be even better for you and your girls. PLus, I think it's less expensive. Word of mouth works best to find the best one. But where exactly are you? My aunt built up a list of good daycares over the years, maybe I can ask her if she knows any in your area that would be good. When her waiting list was too long, she would refer people to the places she liked.

_________________Associate Editor at Allergic Living.
Allergies to all nuts and legumes except soy and green beans.

I'm in Terrebonne (North of Laval) and the only worry I have if she has a reaction at a smaller daycare, who will be travel with her to the hospital if there is only one person in charge of all the kids? I have no idea how these things work really. Word of mouth doesn't really work very well for me since i'm in a very french area and know pretty much nobody, none of our neighbours really talk to us, even though we speak french. I'm glad i've started to work on this earlier rather than later, since i'm onyl going back in february it seems it may take a while to find a sppot, although a larger daycare center may be glad to have her since they get paid more for having her there because of her allergies..

My gosh I almost jumped through the phone to whack this woman upside the head!

*rewind in dramatic style*

I was at the park this morning with the girls, chasing after my daughter when the CLSC dietician called me back. I was looking for some help with finding the daycare, and she said "I looked up the file and the allergies on file aren't the same as what you told me". I explained that when she got the tests done (at 6 months) she tested negative to beef, but hadn't actually ingested any yet, so it was a false negative. Then she goes on to say "The reaction to egg she had wasn't even serious.. she was just vomiting." My jaw drops, I said yes, she was projectile vomiting with hives all over her body. "Oh, but her oxygenation was fine.." I say, yes, she doesn't have respiratory symptoms (or hasn't yet..) Then she basically calls me a liar about all the reactions she's had, and insists she's not allergic to beef because she scratch tested negative to it... I couldn't get over the fact a health professional was doubting this, just because she doens't have the most updated test results. She basically told me if I wanted help, i'd have to go elsewhere to get help, to my allergist, because she "doesn't have the right information" but in a way that said more "becasue I dont' believe you and think you are blowing it out of proportion.."..

*SIGH*

Guess i'm getting no help from them finding a daycare. Makes me want to copy our RAST scores and staple them to her forhead..

I would, with all due respect, point out to her that since allergies can change, you are going by the most up to date information from the allergist and as he is a specialist in this field. I would also advise her that if she requires any clairification or feels that there are inconsistencies in the reports, she should take it up with the professional.

She is really very unprofessional in making subjective statements and trying to diagnosis outside of her field of expertise. She certainly sounds as if she has a bias...

Of course there is a bias.. My name is very clearly english, I have a slight accent when I speak french and I live in a predominantly french area, it's almost impossible to get served anywhere around here in english, and if they catch a hint of english in your speech, prepare to go to the back of the line.. I honestly can't wait to move, either into Montreal where the english population is much larger, or just out of the province..

Well my girls are in school now...so I'm home during the day with my boy who doesn't have allergies. I work some evenings where my girls have extracurricular activities...so I'm around there when my girls are there.

Anyways, I'm happy to say that I have begun a home daycare for kids allergic to milk (and other things...but no one is allowed milk/egg/peanut/treenut/chicken products)...it's something I've wanted to do for a long time.

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